New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady talks with reporters following a team NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, July 25, 2013. / Charles Krupa, AP

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Tom Brady has seen and done so much during his illustrious career with the New England Patriots, but as he stood at the edge of the practice field Thursday the GQ quarterback was undoubtedly treading new ground.

The topic was Aaron Hernandez, the former Patriots tight end facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of Odin Lloyd, a Hernandez friend and semipro football player.

The case has cast a dark cloud as the Patriots open training camp, underscoring the mission for Brady and other players to focus on football while trying to put a delicate situation -- that they were not involved in -- into perspective.

A day after Patriots coach Bill Belichick addressed the situation, it was Brady's turn.

"At some point, you have to move forward," Brady said, surrounded by dozens of reporters and cameras. "I think we as a team are doing that. The best thing is really coming out at the start of the football season, talk about the challenges we have ahead of us. Certainly, it's been a challenging off-season. But we're going to try to move forward as best as we know how."

Brady spoke extensively on the matter for the first time, and was careful in addressing specifics. He said that under the advice of team management, he couldn't answer a question about whether Hernandez has reached out to him or whether he has talked to the former teammate who has been held without bond since his June 26 arrest.

Brady insisted the team's morale is fine.

How much of a distraction has the saga been for Brady?

"Zero," he said.

Asked to recall his emotions upon learning of Hernandez' involvement in the case, Brady said, "I think everyone had a certain range of emotions, whatever they might have been. Those are really personal. I dealt with those."

Brady acknowledged the gravity of the situation, but emphasized the matter in which the team must deal with it as it moves forward. He said it is important as a team leader to set the proper example.

Brady, who reported to camp with rookies on Monday, was among four team captains allowed by the team to speak to the media on Thursday, when the rest of the veterans reported.

"It's a real-life situation that everyone has to deal with," he said. "Coach (Belichick) in those team meetings that we have, he always gives us a lot of information. That's part of his role as head coach. As captains of the this team, we take that information and try to do with it as we please.

"I think we're excited to be here. It's a fresh start for all of us. I know the last six weeks have been distracting for a lot of people, but I'd say for the team, we're trying to focus on our job and what we have to do to come out and win football games.

"Certainly, it's a tragic thing that happened," Brady added. "Someone loses their life. But all of these things were out of the players' control here. We're not really part of that situation, so I don't think it does a lot for us to get too involved in that."

When asked Brady how well Hernandez fit into the locker room, Brady's response said something else about moving on.

"I don't think it matters at this point," he said.

Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork offered a way for his teammates to deal with the strange circumstances.

"We have a sign on the wall as you enter the locker room: 'Put the team first and do your job,'" he said." You have to read it every time you come in. I'm pretty sure I will. Even though it's been there a long time and we see it every year, I think we all will (read it)."

Wilfork said the Hernandez case is "going to test this team's chemistry. It's going to test everyone who's in this locker room. It'll show just how important football is to us."

Wilfork deflected a number of questions on Hernandez, saying he didn't want to comment on the investigation.

"Camp has started," he said. "It's tough, but at the same time, we have to continue to do our jobs. To start training camp on a note like this is tough. We're not going to disrespect anything that's going on with the families, but we have to play football."